Petrol price hiked by Rs 2.96 per litre

While Bharat Petroleum Corporation announced a hike in petrol rates from midnight, Indian Oil Corporation and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation were set to follow suit on Wednesday.

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Headlines Today Bureau

New Delhi

December 14, 2010

UPDATED: December 14, 2010 22:11 IST

Unrelated file photo of a deserted petol pump in Kolkata due to a 24-hour strike against rise in petrol prices. PTI

The government on Tuesday gave the three state-owned oil companies a go-ahead to raise petrol prices by Rs 2.96 per litre.

While Bharat Petroleum Corporation announced a hike in petrol rates from midnight, Indian Oil Corporation and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation were set to follow suit on Wednesday.

The price of petrol in Delhi will now touch Rs 55.87 per litre. It will be Rs 60.27 in Mumbai and Rs 62.62 in Bangalore. In Chennai, it will go up to Rs 60.40 per litre and in Kolkata to Rs 59.77.

The hike comes after international crude oil prices having touched 90 US dollars per barrel.

An increase in diesel prices too is on the cards. Union Petroleum Minister Murli Deora said an effort was being made to minimise the increase in diesel prices and the Empowered Group of Ministers would look into the matter.

The BJP criticised the decision to hike fuel prices. Party spokesperson Prakash Javadekar said the hike was unjustifiable and demanded a rollback.

Petrol prices were freed from government control in June this year. They were last increased in November by 32 paise.

- With inputs from agencies

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